FRAUD: A Romantic Suspense Novel

by R. C. Stephens

  I slid my hands down my sides to smooth out the red dress I was wearing. It was a conservative dress that hugged my curves and stopped above my knee. I matched it with nude stiletto sandals, making me almost as tall as Mark.

  “You look good,” he said. There was no emotion in his tone, no warmth in his eyes, and no smile on his lips.

  “Thank you.” I fake smiled. “You don’t look bad yourself.” I followed that saying about keeping your enemies closer. Truly I wanted to scream at him, leave him, and tell him how completely gross it was that he was forcing me to stay in this marriage. The way that I saw it, I had no choice. My kids would not be thrown into a custody battle. The asshole knew this, and just like he used my other insecurities against me, he dangled my fears over my head.

  I turned to leave my room. Lily was wearing the dress I left on her bed earlier. “Hi, pretty girl. Love that dress on you.” She’d even done her hair in a side ponytail. It was messy but she looked adorable. She twirled around, and the white lace dress with the red trimmings flowed with her movement.

  “Where’s Liam?” I asked her. From this angle I could see inside his room, and he wasn’t there.

  Lily shrugged.

  “Liam,” I called out as my sandals clapped against the ceramic flooring.

  He didn’t answer. He knew not to go outside by himself, yet I found myself opening the back door. “Liam get in here now,” I said irately, watching my son hanging off a little swing set we had in the backyard. My son looked at me with wide eyes. “You shouldn’t be outside by yourself.”

  “Sorry, Mommy.” He pouted. He could be so sweet; it was hard to stay mad at him. I followed him back to his room and helped him dress in his holiday clothes, a button-down shirt and khakis.

  With all of us ready, I waited for Mark, who was walking up and down the street talking on his cell phone. I buckled the kids into my car and motioned to the clock on my phone to show him it was getting late. He gave me an irritated look, and I wondered what I ever saw in him. The Mark of today was so different from the man I married.

  We drove over to Immy and Shay’s. Besides the children’s chatter in the backseat, the car was too quiet, tension hanging over us like an oppressive fog.

  I rang the bell, holding a bottle of wine and a Christmas cake I picked up at a local bakery. The cake was one of those delicious fruit cakes with cream cheese frosting. Nerves buzzed through me, knowing Hayes was eating dinner with us too. Thinking of the way he looked at me made me feel worse. Would Mark notice? Would he even care?

  Immy opened the front door with a wide smile. Mark mumbled something incoherent under his breath while Immy hugged and kissed each of us, spreading Christmas cheer. We walked deeper into the house and my stomach turned. Immy had been worried about me ever since she saw what a mess I was in the carpool lane after Mark threatened me. The worst part was I felt like I couldn’t share what I was going through with my best friend, because Mark didn’t like it when our friends knew about our problems; it made him nervous and agitated. He tended to take out his emotional state on me, so it was in my interest to remain tight-lipped. My kids ran off to play with Immy’s kids while Shay greeted Mark and me, followed by Hayes.

  “Nice to see you again.” Hayes shook my hand like I was a complete stranger. I had to admit he was good. But I wasn’t. I was a bundle of nerves. My hand shook as I gently took his hand in mine.

  “Nice to see you again, mate. Merry Christmas.” Hayes shook Marks hand like he was the friendliest guy in the world. Mark’s jaw looked taut enough to snap. He didn’t like Hayes the first time they met either, probably because we were friendly with each other. The irony wasn’t lost on me. My husband didn’t want to give me the time of day, but he was upset when another man did.

  Shay and Immy went all out with the decorations as they usually did. My gaze landed on the lovely tree off to the side of the family room. It wasn’t huge, but I could tell it was decorated with love.

  “Come have a glass of bubbly.” Shay waved us over to the dining table. Immy had a knack for detail. The table looked like it belonged in a magazine with red and gold plates and beautiful poinsettia arrangements down the middle.

  Shay poured Mark and me a glass of champagne and we all clinked glasses including Hayes. Mark slipped one hand possessively around my waist and held his hand a centimeter up from my ass. It took everything in me not to swat his hand away or tell him he had no right to touch me. Hayes eyes traveled momentarily to Mark’s hand touching me, but somehow he was capable of hiding his feelings.

  After some small talk we sat down to eat. Immy hired a waitress to serve dinner so she could enjoy the evening. Things seemed to be going well. The food was delicious, and the champagne was flowing, even though I had no appetite. The children always had fun with one another, and Mark was unusually talkative and touchy feely tonight, which irked me. Not only because Hayes was here, but because that was what we did. We acted like the perfect couple in public. We had eye contact, light touches, and soft smiles down to an art form, and it sickened my insides.

  “Mommy, I ate all my food; can I go to Lewis’s room?” Lily asked, her bottom lip pushed out. They stopped playing together in school because it was gross for girls and boys to play together, but at home behind closed doors they were still very much the best friends they had always been.

  “Sure, if it’s okay with Immy.” I looked to Immy for approval.

  “Go on.” She laughed, waving them off. She was tipsy.

  “Me too,” Liam whined.

  “You go play with Althea and April,” I answered. He frowned for a moment, but Althea told him he could play Minecraft and that was all it took for him to take off with her.

  “I found this great bottle of whiskey. It’s a collector’s edition.” Shay stood from the table. “I should go fetch it. It’s that kind of night.” He eyed Mark. “Would you like to join me, mate?”

  Mark eyed me for the briefest of seconds. I knew he was losing patience with my friends, but he smiled and answered. “Yeah, sure.” He followed Shay to the back of the house where they had a wine cellar that also stocked other expensive alcohol since Shay was a collector.

  That left me, Hayes, and Immy at the table.

  “I should go check on dessert.” Immy excused herself, and it was obvious what she was doing. Giving Hayes and me a moment alone. My gaze cut to him, and my heart gallopped in my chest. I couldn’t risk being close to him, even though we’d never crossed the line. The emotion in his eyes bled a truth far deeper than the damage of touch. My own traitorous body was thrumming with desire to hold him.

  “Excuse me. I need the ladies room.” Feeling overwhelmed, I abruptly stood, wobbling slightly from the effects of all the champagne Shay poured. I worked hard on walking a straight line to the washroom, which was by the front door, relieved to have distance from Hayes and his scorching blue eyes. I closed the bathroom door as a strong pressure from the other side prevented it from closing. “What the . . .” The bathroom door pushed open from the other side, startling me. “Um . . . I’m in here,” I said, thinking someone had to use the toilet. Only that was not the case because Hayes stepped around the door, closing it behind him and caging me in.

  My pulse ricochet as heat crawled over my limbs, hot and tingling from being so close to him in a confined space. His blue eyes locked on mine. His hand cupped my chin. “What the hell is going on, Natalia? Last we spoke you wanted a divorce. Now you and Mark are the perfect couple?” His tone was soft and inquiring. Concern for me clouded his eyes and caused tears to sting the back of my eyelids. I held back tears, not wanting to cry over Mark. Not when I had Hayes this close, and all I wanted to do was kiss him.

  “Things got complicated.” I swallowed hard, holding his gaze, inhaling the warmth of his breath so close to my face.

  “How?” He took a step closer if that was possible, and I could no longer tear my gaze away because he was here in my space, demanding answers.

  “He’s being diff
icult,” I said vaguely.

  “Tell me what that means,” he insisted, his voice low but caring and seductive.

  “No. Not now.” I shook my head, my senses on overdrive. Fear of Mark, lust for Hayes. “Please, Hayes, just kiss me.” My tone, desperate and breathless, was laced with pure, primal need. My words set Hayes’s blue eyes into a burning inferno.

  His throat bobbed. “What happened to no cheating?” His brows furrowed as he assessed me. I could tell he was holding on to his last thread of self-control, not wanting to take what wasn’t his, but what he didn’t know was I had been his for a while, it just took time for me to get my shit together and realize it.

  “Fuck it. Fuck him. Fuck my situation. I need you,” I said, sounding like the devil in my red dress. I pulled on his white polo and crashed my lips to his.

  He growled low and feral as if he’d lost all self-control as our lips feasted on each other. His tongue moved against mine with ravenous hunger, swiping inside my mouth as he possessed me, tasting of sin, lust, and goodness. I was so hungry, so eager; my body craved more. I’d never felt a fire burning me whole, consuming me from the inside out. Yet, as our tongues moved, our teeth clacked together, and it wasn’t a harmonious movement but primal hunger driving us closer. His fingers moved through my loose hair, and I reached to his head, my nails digging into his scalp, wanting to climb him. He pressed me to the door, his erection hitting my abdomen, causing a pulsing fire to erupt between my thighs.

  “I want you so bad,” I moaned into his greedy mouth. I knew I should keep quiet, but I couldn’t.

  A guttural groan from deep in his throat escaped like a gorilla beating his chest, and claiming me as his. Lifting me with his strong arms, I wrapped my legs around his waist and moved eagerly, searching for a way to satify the intense hunger beating in my belly.

  “I can orgasm just from this. It’s . . .” A long drawn out moaned escaped me.

  “Fuck, if you do I swear I’ll lose it,” he warned, so close to my ear that goosebumps trailed down my nape.

  “Oh, Hayes.” I was so close. So close to coming completely undone from dry-humping.

  “Fuck, fuck, fuck.” Our kissing broke with a pop, and he shook his head. His shoulders rose and lowered with each heavy breath he took. “We have to stop. It’s fucking Christmas. Your kids. Fuck, your husband is in the house. I can’t take you like this.” He raked shaky fingers through his hair, the feeling of unbridled passion furling its way through his body as it did my own.

  Still his words struck a chord, making me crash. “Shit. What was I thinking?” Pain filled the area behind my ribcage. I’d been feeling so alone, desperate. “I’m sorry.” My cheeks heated, my heartbeat was eratic, and the pulse between my thighs ebbed. Hayes worked on the mess I made of his hair and pulled his polo out to hide his erection in his jeans.

  “Don’t ever be sorry.” He placed a soft chaste kiss on my lips. “I’ve been thinking about that kiss ever since you promised one.” He gave me a wry smile. His lips were bee-stung swollen and perfect. He had a way of always making me feel good, wanted.

  I giggled. I was as high as a kite when I promised a kiss.

  “I’m slipping out. You take your time.” He winked, and just like that he was gone.

  This felt like a fantasy. My breathing was still ragged, my clit throbbed, my hair looked like I’d been thoroughly fucked, and my lips looked like I’d been up to no good. Holy crap. I shut the toilet seat and sat to gather myself and catch my breath. After a couple minutes, I stood in front of the mirror and smoothed my hair down. Luckily the bathroom was by the front door where I left my purse on an entrance table. I quickly stepped out of the washroom, grabbed my purse, and reapplied some fresh lipstick.

  A good ten minutes must have passed; I returned and the dining table was set with dessert while Immy, Shay, Hayes, and Mark were talking about the new soccer field that would be opening about half an hour away.

  “You okay, babe?” Mark smiled as I approached the table. My heart beat erratically, mostly from doing something I shouldn’t have been doing. Even though it felt so right.

  “Yeah, just freshened up a little.” I grinned, remembering his warning earlier about behaving. I hadn’t behaved in the bathroom, and that little notion had me feeling powerful.

  He nodded then returned to the conversation. Immy lifted her glass of champagne and cocked a brow. Had she seen Hayes follow me into the bathroom? She got up from the table and walked toward the kitchen, motioning for me to follow her. I did since soccer held little interest for me.

  She leaned back on the counter and swirled the champagne in her glass. She hopped onto her kitchen counter. “Spill it.” She laughed, all glossy eyed and relaxed.

  My eyes widened. Shit, of course she noticed. “Did anyone else see?” I whispered, wide-eyed.

  “Relax, Hayes made it to the table just before Mark and Shay returned.” Her eyes glowed with mischief. She wanted details. Details I was told by Mark not to share. Only that little tryst left me feeling brave and like a pressure cooker ready to pop.

  The words flew out of me before I could lock them down. “Mark told me if I left him he would fight me for fifty percent custody of the children. We don’t have money, and if I sell the house, after the paying of the mortgage, we will have nothing left. So essentially he’s forcing me to stay with him,” I said as if I told her that tomorrow would be a cloudy day.

  She gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. “Shit. I mean I knew you guys were having trouble, but I didn’t realize you’d decided to divorce.”

  “I want out, but you and I both know I can’t live without my kids, and he’s spiteful enough to drag them through a court case.” I huffed and took her glass of champagne out of her hand. I threw back a couple long gulps. I was already warm and tipsy from my own champagne but needed more relief.

  “What are you going to do?” she asked.

  “I don’t know. I’m stuck,” I admitted. “For now, at least.”

  “Talk to your father, Natalia. You said you guys are on better terms; he’ll help you,” she said, and she was probably right.

  “And what, admit that they were right about, Mark?” I shook my head. “It’s not only that. If I leave him ,I want to know I can stand on my own two feet. I’ve never truly been single. I need to know I’m strong enough to leave him and make it on my own. I know that sounds stubborn—”

  Immy cut me off. “No, it sounds honorable. You were always independent. I get that you need to assert that independence again. Sometimes in a relationship it can get lost.”

  “Not for you,” I retorted.

  “Maybe not most of the time. Shay is pretty good with allowing me to make my own decisions and go after what I want,” she admitted. “But I know many women who don’t have that, and it isn’t something to be ashamed of.”

  “I know. I just need to figure a way out on my own.”

  “I get that.” She sighed. “Do you think it’s time you get advice from Rosabell?”

  Of course I had thought about asking Rosabell for advice in the past. She was a divorce attorney. I wasn’t ready back then to make things final, but with Mark’s threats I was scared. It wouldn’t hurt to find out my parental rights in case of divorce.

  “I plan on calling her.” I nodded.

  “Good.” She bit her lip. “And what about Hayes? I saw him sneak into the bathroom.” Her lips tipped up at the corners devilishly.

  My cheeks burned. “What didn’t seem okay weeks ago, suddenly seems like my only reprieve. Mark is being a complete asshole. I’m not saying I should have a free hall pass, but it makes it easier, and Hayes is sweet and delicious.”

  “OMG. You have to see your face right now. You look like you only need a match to be set off.”

  “After that bathroom tryst, I probably do.” My hands came up to my cheeks and I palmed my face.

  “You deserve happiness. Just please be careful. Mark’s always been a little possessive and jealous.”
>
  She spoke the truth. “I will be.”

  “Mom . . .” Liam waited impatiently in front of me and tugged my dress.

  “What is it sweetie?” I kneeled so that we were eye level. I worried he may have overheard part of our conversation.

  “The man in the other room is playing a guitar. I want to play too,” he said so innocently. I shot Immy a look and allowed my son to take me by hand to the family room. Sure enough Hayes was singing Silent Night and had the kids sitting in front of him. They were fixated.

  “See, Mommy.” He pointed at Hayes. Hayes gave us a small smile.

  “That’s Hayes guitar, honey. You can’t play that,” I whispered ,not wanting to stop him from singing. He must have caught on to Liam’s request because he stopped strumming the guitar and waved Liam over. My son looked to me for approval. “Go ahead.” I smiled.

  He walked hesitantly over to Hayes, who was singing Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer with all the kids joining in. He was so good with him, it made me wonder what holidays were like for him growing up.

  Hayes guided Liam to sit on his lap as he sat on the couch. Then he placed the guitar in front of them both and took Liam’s small hand in his. He slowly strummed the guitar with Liam’s fingers, and his young eyes light up like the Christmas tree. My heart swooned for Hayes. Suddenly all the kids stood and wanted a turn strumming the guitar. Hayes took his time, allowing each child to sit with him and sing a song while playing the guitar.

  Immy stopped beside me, giving me a knowing look. “He’s good with them,” she said. I noticed that myself. I couldn’t help comparing him to Mark. I always pushed Mark to give the kids some undivided attention, but it was like pulling teeth.